MANILA, Philippines ? A Quezon City councilor said an ordinance recently approved by the City Council titled ?Population and Reproductive Health Management Policy? is consistent with the prolife stand of the Catholic Church.

?The council is against abortion and the city is not legalizing it with the approval of the measure,? Majority Leader Ariel Inton Jr. said Monday.

He pointed out that the measure specifically cites that abortion is not included among the natural and artificial birth spacing methods, information and resources that the city government would make available to couples and individuals.

The city government will allocate P12 million for the implementation of the ordinance that aims to address the burgeoning population growth and its socio-economic impact on families.

The proposal, authored by Councilor Joseph Juico and approved on third reading last week, calls on the city government to provide a comprehensive population and reproductive health management policy, saying that ?sustainable social development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens.?

It stresses the use of condoms and other contraceptives to control population growth in the city and makes it mandatory for schools to include reproductive health and sex education in their curriculum for Grade 5 to high school students.

The ordinance has been opposed by Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco who said it was ?antilife? and ?threatens the sanctity of human life and the family.?